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Deep work & collaboration–the human core of developer experience
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The human core of developer experience–prioritising focus and collaboration
Matt Saunders
9 April 2025
4 min read
Matt Saunders
9 April 2025
4 min read
Discover how deep work and deliberate collaboration enhance developer experience, boost productivity, and lead to higher-quality software.
Research included in our playbook, The DevEx Evolution, produced in conjunction with Network Perspective, has found that DevEx is fundamentally about understanding how people in teams are actually living and breathing the work that they do and how removing friction and pain points from their work and the tools that they use can make the magic happen. This isn't just about comfort or convenience; it's about looking at the whole development process and creating an environment where developers can be productive, engaged, and deliver high-quality software.
A key component of this is enabling "deep work"–periods of uninterrupted concentration in which developers can tackle complex problems without distraction. Modern software delivery often involves getting "in the zone". With most software delivery involving a complicated mesh of libraries, dependencies and abstractions, developers talk of loading complex scenarios into their heads and "getting in the zone". The disaster of a colleague interrupting to ask an irrelevant question and ruining the developer's flow has now been pastiched heavily into popular culture, and the reality is that the modern development environment often fragments attention.
The statistic that developers only spend an average of 52 minutes coding before being interrupted is a stark reminder of this reality. Constant context switching – moving between meetings, emails, random chats and unrelated tasks – significantly reduces productivity and increases the likelihood of errors. This fragmentation significantly affects a developer's ability to get into a state of flow, with a requisite impact on their ability to code.
We've investigated the dynamics related to focused work time and how context switching affects productivity. The solutions to this aren't too obvious. Still, passive data from collaboration systems such as calendars, emails, and instant messaging can provide insights into how significant the impediments to deep work are within a particular organisation. Initiatives like this often appear to be aimed at restricting collaboration–which our study also proves is a bad move–but a shift towards intentional and deliberate collaboration to increase its value and minimise unnecessary interruptions has been proven to work effectively. Having clear communication channels and a shared understanding of the task at hand is a power move for effective collaboration–and hence, a good developer experience.
Creating an environment that supports both deep work and deliberate collaboration requires a conscious effort and an acceptance that initial indications might point to this seeming less effective. Techniques to consider are implementing "focus time" blocks where interruptions are minimised, establishing clear communication protocols, and investing in tools that enable effective collaboration. It also requires a shift in mindset – recognising that developer time is a valuable resource and prioritising activities that maximise its impact.
The playbook insights highlight that building a human-centred DevEx function doesn't just make developers happy, it unlocks potential that the administrivia of the organisation's development process may have been unintentionally masking.
In summary, cultivating a human-centred developer experience is not merely a strategy for enhancing developer satisfaction; it's a powerful catalyst for unlocking the full potential of your development teams. Organisations can significantly boost productivity and software quality by fostering an environment that balances deep work with deliberate collaboration. Embracing techniques such as focus time blocks and clear communication protocols while leveraging insights from passive data can help minimise unnecessary interruptions and optimise developer flow. Ultimately, recognising and valuing developer time as a critical resource will lead to more innovative solutions and a stronger alignment with organisational goals. As we move forward, let us commit to creating a development culture that empowers developers to thrive and deliver exceptional results.
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The human core of developer experience–prioritising focus and collaboration
Discover how deep work and deliberate collaboration enhance developer experience, boost productivity, and lead to higher-quality software.
Written by
DevOps Lead
From a background as a Linux sysadmin, Matt is an authority in all things DevOps. At Adaptavist and beyond, he champions DevOps ways of working, helping teams maximise people, process and technology to deliver software efficiently and safely.